Monday, May 16, 2011

Mugshots

Little Ryan is five now. He's come a long way in the almost three short years he's been in our family. He's gone from a very quiet, shy, fearful child to a vivacious, talkative, friendly boy. But still, there's situations he'll get a little quieter, a little shyer until he's comfortable.

Ryan has been in three preschools. His first was a small church run preschool he went to until we learned he qualified for the school district preschool for speech and language therapy. But this year, he graduated from speech therapy and his school district preschool schedule was a killer. (Monday-Thursday 12:20-4:50, including bus pick up and drop off) After a lot of soul searching and prayer, I decided to move Ryan to Emma's preschool at the start of the new year.

I worried. Was this too much change for a little guy who likes structure? But he was very excited to go to Emma's school and I breathed a sigh of relief at getting two days with four straight hours to myself. The first day he was eager to start his new class, until he got there. Then he clammed up and plastered on the stoic expression he wears when he's scared. I sent him into his classroom, more than slightly worried but when I picked him up he was all smiles and mad he had to wait two days to go back.

The school year is ending and the remaining preschool days are pretty much field days and picnics so the teachers are cleaning out cubbies and file boxes. It was like a blast to the past when Ryan brought home a folder with this picture on the front:


Is it just me, or does this look like a police mug shot you'd see on TMZ?

This photo was taken the morning he walked in and while it tugs at my heart that my baby was scared and shy, I have to laugh a little at this photo.

Yeah, mother of the year.

Since I've already incriminated myself, why stop there? Because, let's be honest. Isn't that part of what you've missed about my blog posts, my lack of self-filtering?

Emma and Ryan's preschool takes school pictures in the fall just like the big kids. Ryan was still at his other school, so on picture day, I sent Emma to school in a cute little outfit and a hair bow (gah, she hates those and outright refuses to wear them now.) A week or so later I got back her proofs.


Her hair bow is missing and Emma isn't all that excited to be there.

I'm not sure what goes on at preschool, but it looks like it couldn't be much worse than waterboarding.

Most mother's would probably see these proofs and say "oh, my poor baby was traumatized." What did I do?

I burst out into hysterical laughter, right there in the preschool hallway.

Priceless.

The question was which pose to order? I couldn't limit it to just one. If money were no object (and when someone discovers that magical land, you be sure to come back and let me know where it is, okay?) I would have gotten all four. Instead, I settled on two. Poses 2 and 4, 'cause you just never know when these photos might come in handy. Emma's still my wild child. I'm smart enough to know I might be able to use these some day.

10 comments:

Jill from Killeny Glen said...

Denise!!! How I miss your blog posts! BUT, I get a lil chuckle from Facebook and am glad your writer is coming out!

Those photos are hilarious! LOVE THEM!!! Why do we think we should ONLY keep the good ones...I like this type BETTAH!

Denise Grover Swank said...

Exactly! The crazy off-beat ones usually have a great story to them. And you know how I love a good story. ;)

Jewelz said...

You know why I didn't have a picture up there?! Because I am just so photogenic ;)

Denise Grover Swank said...

*snort* I'm sure I could find some old photos of you, or even some newer ones. Hmm...

Christina - Rant Rave Roll said...

You blogged!! I actually thought I was imagining it at first.

My oldest is in junior high and he has the same expression as Emma in his school pictures. I think he's attempting to look "cool" instead of plastering on a big, goofy smile, Unfortunately, he looks like a miserable kid who hates his life and is dreading getting beat up on the bus later.

SarahJarnagin said...

Oh, how I've missed your hilarity! This is awesome.... I had a great laugh.

Denise Grover Swank said...

Christina and Sarah! Thanks! I feel so loved that you all really do miss my blog posts. Sometimes I think people just say that, you know like when you run into an annoying, over-talkative person who's more than a bit self-centered and you say "I've really missed you!" except you're only saying it to be nice.

Yeah, I worry you all say it like that. ;)

(And I think I just won a contest for the longest sentence EVAH!)

Goosegirl said...

I LOVE Emma's expressions, especially pose 4! Hilarious!! Ahnalin's preschool photos looked just like Emma's and I love them. They still make me laugh. I, too, am glad to see you blogging again.

Unknown said...

If they are mug shots, they are cute ones! She looks miserable. I wonder if the photographer just wasn't having a good day?????

Kay Bratt said...

So funny. I almost NEVER read blogs anymore because I am overloaded on projects. But I came to this from your fb (yes, I still find time to fb..shame on me) and I'm so glad I took 5 minutes away from editing my latest ms to get a good laugh.

LOVE it.